Why has the world become an immoral society that is unsafe with terrorists attacking others and creating refuges by the millions; why are we in this condition? Why is the world struggling financially and peace seems a rare possibility? Could it be because the world has denied God? Is it due to our not living according to the standards God have set for us? How many are reading the Bible and living according to its ways, even Christians? Are we receiving what God promised would happen if we did not worship Him? He tells us He will make the world peaceful and prosperous if we repent and replace hate with love. Do we have leaders that will unite us and make God our first priority? It appears we must, on our own, begin changing if we want a different world. What must we do?

Everyone is born innocent. As we grow, a time comes when we become accountable for our lives. It is the age when we must accept Christ as our Savior or remain under the control of Satan’s powers. It is one of the world’s greatest mysteries. We must accept the Holy Spirit’s guidance and live by God’s commandments and ways or remain a self-centered, prideful person lusting after the world’s pleasures. The world causes a pride within us that makes us feel we do not need God and therefore, many deny there is a God, to overcome any guilt resulting from sin.

Christ came that none should perish and have the opportunity to live an eternal life as a child of God forever. God’s plan was to give everyone a choice. The purpose of the church was to spread the Word so everyone would know they could choose to be good and not remain under the control of Satan or the world’s evil desires. Everyone must understand that there is a heaven and a hell if they need a reason to choose good over evil. God does not force Himself on anyone. If you chose to live an evil and corrupt life you have His permission. We see men and women today who live and behave in ways that would disgrace animals.

You will either be a believer in God or an unbeliever through choice. God has offered to give every spiritual blessing to anyone who acknowledges Christ as God’s Son and receives His Spirit into their life.

Romans 1:19 – 20 – “Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Ephesians 2:7 – 10 – “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Many believe once they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit they are obligated to give something in return. The requirement is that we give ourselves through accountability and commitment and not believe we must work our way to Heaven. We are to respond with gratitude, praise and joy. It takes faith to be saved and it is a faith that is given to us by God. It is nothing that we have done to earn salvation. Otherwise, we could boast: look at what I have done. However, God does expect Christians to do good deeds and serve plus be a witness for Him.

Romans 1:21 – 23 – “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”

People may say they know God and believe in God yet refuse to worship God for who He is and establish their own beliefs. After a time, their hearts become darkened and hard, their judgments become selfish. They worship money, power, control, excess pleasures, fame, etc. Romans 1:25 – “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.

God tells us that we cannot make it to heaven without having received the Holy Spirit. It is possible to say the right words and believe you have accepted Christ but was accepting only to keep out of hell.

Ephesians 1:13 & 14 – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

Our proof of salvation is being sealed by the Holy Spirit. It is our guarantee that we have been forgiven, redeemed and have become adopted into the family of God. If we do not have the Spirit of God within us we do not belong to Christ. And when the Holy Spirit enters us He brings the promise of glory to come. The Spirit is the guarantee of coming immortality, a guarantee of our inheritance and the pledge given to believers by God to assure them that the glory of the life to come, promised in the gospel, will actually happen.

We can know God in all of His glory as the Holy Spirit reveals God to us. Scripture encourages us to get to know God. The more we know about God and His grace, the more we are able to deal with stress, fears, problems and trials. Knowing God will help us deal better in all areas of our lives. We then must realize that nothing will happen in our life that God does not allow. Nothing is too difficult for God and His power to help us overcome any hardship we encounter. God will be with us and available at all times.

Have you determined whether good or evil guides you? Or, do you truly have the Holy Spirit in your life?

How can you read the Bible and not believe that God controls the weather. Have you read that there was a flood during Noah’s time? Have you heard that Joseph received a message from God that there would be seven years of prosperity and then seven years of famine? What about the time Moses pleaded to Pharaoh to free the Israelites and his refusals caused a hailstorm and flashing lightning. The hail beat down everything that grows. (Exodus 9:18) God turned streams and the river into blood. God withheld the rains so the crops would not grow. (Jeremiah 3:3)

Most people do not realize that Satan has read the Bible. He realizes that as we come near the end of the age, there will be famines and weather problems. He doesn’t want the masses to believe that climate change or global warming is being caused by our immorality and disbelief. He does not want anyone to believe there is a God who will use the weather as punishment, as he did so many times, to punish the Israelites for their denying of God.

Amos 4:6 – 7 – “I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord. “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.” II Chronicles 6:26 – 27 – “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.”

You may not be aware that many have been given power from Lucifer or Satan. My research states that Luciferians’ elite believe they have been given supernatural rights to rule over the rest of us. I read where the goal of the Illuminati is to cause millions of Christians to be disillusioned and give up their faith in Christ. Thessalonians 2:4 – “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” This is the ruler the Bible states will be the Antichrist.

Do you realize that in some courts today, saying that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior would be considered hate speech? It is implying that other religions do not offer salvation. You may need to be careful who you say: “God bless you” to. Our constitutional rights are gradually being suppressed.

Man made climate change is part of the plan needed to change our social and economic system. A warning came out in 2007 that if we did not change what we were doing to the atmosphere by 2012 it may be too late. Almost every top official in the Obama administration has declared that the world’s biggest problem is the catastrophic threat from man-made climate change. According to Investor’s Business Daily: “A review of recent research indicates that, no matter how many costly regulations the U. S. imposes or how dire the warning, the battle appears to be already lost.” “A 2009 study by a top climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration found that even if the world stopped all carbon emissions immediately, there’d still be global warming, because warming is essentially an irreversible change that will last more than a thousand years.”

America’s energy policy has been one of president Obama’s gravest concerns. He is constantly stating that global warming may be America’s greatest problems. He has made it a central issue needing emergency attention. He is traveling this week to Alaska because of his great concern. The president believes that reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil, must change. He believes the only way to save the planet is to use wind, solar and nuclear power for our energy.

This is a time when we could become energy independent. However, the president is missing one of the greatest opportunities to make America once more prosperous. His failing to approve the Keystone XL, which has proven to be safe to the environment, would cause economic growth. The first leg of the Keystone system has raised approximately $200 million in property taxes and 14,000 construction jobs were created in 11 states and providences. It is estimated that completion of the entire system would put 42,000 people to work with about a two billion dollar payroll.

I have previously written allowing public land to drill for oil and natural gas, the government royalties could be used to pay down the national debt. We are sitting on one of the greatest opportunities, because of modern technology, that America has ever had.

Can you see why Satan does not want the United States to take advantage of our natural resources? If you were a political leader with a net worth of about one million dollars and knew you could make one-half billion by promoting global warming, would you do so? One politician did. Remember when Satan tempted Jesus and offered him the world if He would worship him? I wonder: are there any politicians that would accept that offer today if Satan were to offer it. Or what would they be willing to do for money? I believe Satan has deceived a lot of people. As the morality of the world gets worse, Satan will deceive many who are religious to reject God’s Commandments and ways of living. If you don’t see the decaying morality that is happening today, you have not been watching TV or reading the evening news.

What does the Bible say about Satan being a deceiver? He started with Adam and Eve and he or one of his followers has tempted every one of us and he is still doing so. Do not listen to the false prophets. God’s is in control of the weather.

http://www.mrctv.org/blog/obamas-lying-about-alaska-and-climate-change-0

Until we came to Nevada we were registered Independents and could vote for any party in the primaries. Being active in a Las Vegas Chamber committee and Rotary, our vote went mostly to people we knew, regardless of party. Two presidents, Reagan and Bill Clinton, both were in favor of legal immigration and were free traders and America did well economically. Under both Democrats and Republicans, we since have enacted massive regulations. We have adopted ObamaCare, Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, expanded the National Labor Relations Board, EPA’s extensive limitations without regard to cost and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We have seen our country go from capitalism toward socialism where the government wants to determine the minimum wage and control how much we pay CEOs.

In addition, our taxes have increased and our government has got us deeply in debt. The Federal Reserve has printed money out of air and has kept interest rates at zero percent for years. If the interest rates were to increase exponentially, we would be paying hundreds of billions on our national debt.

Our country has moved toward denying there is a God and our decreasing morality has development a number of dishonest people. We use to live by the Golden Rule of doing to others as you would have them do to you. There was a time when many of us remember when a hand shake or our word could be trusted. Today, unless it is in writing, approved by a lawyer and notarized, the word of many business people, politicians and others are meaningless.

If our government was concerned about a growing economy and jobs, it would allow that expansions of producing shale oil and gas and end the war on coal use. It would allow the building of pipe lines and allow the exporting of natural gas and oil. They would open up public land to drilling and create millions of jobs and the result would be enough taxes to pay our bills without borrowing. With added jobs, a growing economy, fewer taxes on businesses and individuals, there would be fewer companies going overseas to expand.

The Bible very clearly tells us what will happen in times like we are living in. II Thessalonians 2:9 – 12 – “This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.”

Have you ever wondered how this man, the Antichrist, could become so powerful and attain such notoriety and loyalty from the masses? He is a tool of Satan and will be given all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders in order to deceive all. His power and his miracles will deceive and cause unbelievers to perish who refused to love the truth or gospel message and be saved. Those who chose to follow the Antichrist, God will send a powerful delusion so that they will believe his lies and thus be condemned for not accepting Christ as their Savior. God uses Satan as part of His judgment and rebelling.

We have seen President Obama and Donald Trump give us a glimpse of what a person will be able to do to get the world to believe that a person can deceive the masses. I am not saying that either is being used by Satan only that saying the right words can convince many that they can give us what we need. That could be security from terrorism, a growing economy, jobs and every need we have.

The purpose of this writing is to alert us to what could soon happen in the very near future when we will be able to recognize who the Antichrist is but deny he exists. He will make a seven-year peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. The Jews will rebuild their temple and peace will exist for 3½ years and then things will get worse. The only reason this will occur is because the masses, worldwide, will allow ourselves to be deceived.

We Americans have the greatest economic potential that we have ever had. However, we have allowed our politicians and our judicial system to deny God and live as if God was not needed or even exists. It is my belief that we Christians have allowed this to happen because we have remained silent. It is time we got back to accepting the constitution and living as our founding fathers planned. This will never happen until Christians and others repent and get back to worshiping God. Can we count on you?

How many Christian leaders will be left behind when the Rapture occurs? A report just released stated that possibly 400 pastors were caught on Ashley Madison’s hack? For those who do not listen to or read the media may not know, but that is an online dating match for those wishing to commit adultery. I don’t know how reliable this story is or if it was reported by an atheist claiming it was true.

It didn’t surprise me because I have belonged to three churches where the senior pastor had to resign because of adultery. One of those pastors hit on my wife many years ago. I am reminded of a story. A pastor was having an affair with one of his members. It got out and he had to resign. His wife divorced him and he lost his family. About a year later, in a grocery store, he ran into the person he was having an affair and apologized to her. She said: You do not have to apologize; I knew you were a phony and I could bring you down. These situations apply to both men and women and I am sure women can tell more stories than men that they have been hit on by professing Christians. The point is: there is an enemy of Satan that denies God’s commandments by destroying us spiritually.

I Peter 5:8 – “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

I took a course in college, Practice Teaching and our professor really impressed on us to never meet alone in a room with a student of the opposite sex. Teaching and in management, I heard of situations that got people in trouble and they claimed nothing happened. The devil can find all kinds of ways to either tempt us or at least bring us down. Once we are brought down, our testimony for Christ and that we are a Christian diminishes.

However, God still loves us and will forgive us and is a giver of second chances. I suppose the guilt would be hard to overcome and would hurt one’s future spiritual life. That is the abundant life that Christ promises.

Those 400 who claim to have been caught; I wonder what their life is like today? If the Rapture occurred this week, would they be left behind? How important is instant gratification in relation to one’s future? How important is it to being spiritual healthy?

My first job as a store manager there was a young lady who became overly friendly. From that time on and when I was transferred, a meeting was held with all employees. I stated that anyone caught drinking alcohol in the back rooms or anyone found committing sexual harassment would be terminated immediately. In the 23 years, prior to starting my own business, I never had a personal problem from another employee. Make sure everyone knows you are a Christian and are off limits and chances are you will never be tempted. This applies to both sexes. Body language and what we talk about tells a lot!

That doesn’t mean we have to preach or try converting everyone so we can stay pure. Our actions and what we talk about sends signals. Telling others, when it is appropriate, the supernatural things occurring in your life and how God is blessing you, normally communicates what is on your mind. If you should ever be tempted, ask yourself, where do you want to spend eternity? I guess if you believe once saved always saved, nothing matters and God will forgive you no matter what you do. Then this blog is not for you. I wonder if this is what the 400 preachers who supposedly got caught thought? OH WELL!

I have never believed once saved always saved was a guarantee. You may think you are saved, but God knows how you are going to live. You must live a holy life to live with God in eternity.

2 Peter 2:20 – 22 – “And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.”

In the Old Testament no one was to touch the Ark of the Covenant except for those designated by God who Aaron was told to select. When the Ark was being transported and hit a bump, a person not designated, touched the Ark to keep it from falling off the cart, he dropped dead.

1 Samuel 6:19 – “But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord.”

When the Jews took Jericho they were told by God to take no loot whatsoever. One man took some gold, silver and clothes. God told Moses that his entire family was to be stoned to death. There are a number of instances where God did not give those in the Old Testament a second chance. Will those 400 preachers all be taken in the Rapture if they have not repented and asked for forgiveness? If one’s heart does not change and they are not living a holy life, the Bible says chances are slim. However, it is only Christ that determines that and not us. We do know, that if we do not have a heart and spirit change, we may not have the Holy Spirit, which is our only guarantee of salvation.

Joshua 6:18 – “But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.”

Joshua 7:20 – 21 – “Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

Joshua 7:24 – 25 – “Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.
Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.”

Did you have a true heart and spirit change and do you actually know that you are being guided by the Holy Spirit? If not, you are probably still living a worldly life and not a holy one as Peter stated in above verse, which is necessary. Were the 400 alleged pastors living a holy life? Only they and God know.

Mathew 7:21 – 23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away evildoers!’”

Sixty years ago, I accepted Christ as my Lord. My life changed completely. God allowed me to manage one of the largest, very profitable, retail stores in the west coast region. I have worked with many hundreds of people. Many did not have the opportunity to live that abundant life the Bible tells us we can have. I have played an active role in my church and have counseled many Christians who lived with constant stress. August of 2011, I wrote on dealing with pressure and stress. It has been read by thousands. I am repeating it once again and hope it helps you if you did not read it.

Is there any normal individual who does not deal with stress, maybe continually? There are numerous books written about dealing with pressure caused by families, relationships, work, health, financial problems, feeling inferior, social pressures of not fitting in, making decisions, taking risks, moral issues and the list seems never ending. How a person deals with stress depends on their degree of commitment, accountability, expectations, their confidence or one’s depth of faith. What does the Bible teach us about handling stress and pressure? It seems that from Genesis to Revelation it tells us to expect it, confront it, and accept it as an opportunity to build character and consider it pure joy because it develops perseverance. WOW! It sounds easy but it isn’t. Who looks forward to pressure and stress because the Bible says it may be good for you? We are told to consider it pure joy when we face trials because the experience tests our faith and develops perseverance. If that is true, then the more trials we have and the greater our stress the more faithful we can become and the more persistence we develop.

James 1:2 – 4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

My experience has been that the older we get and the more spiritually mature we become the less stress we face daily. But there is always a time when an emotion hits the stomach and the blood pressure rises and one’s pulse starts beating a few beats faster. Some react with anger, some look for someone or something to blame, others become physically ill, a few want to run from it but, we are told to confront it. The Bible tells us to consider it a time of joy and an opportunity to test our faith. Would you pay a psychologist to tell you that?

Many of us do not realize there are two kinds of joy: worldly joy and spiritual joy. It is unreasonable to think we will always be confronted with pleasant circumstances. It is not unreasonable to expect and to have joy. The joy I am talking about comes only from the Holy Spirit. The joy we receive from God is continuous and is experienced at all times regardless of how difficult times may seem.

The Apostle Paul says it was this inner joy that encouraged him during his times of imprisonment and the many trials that he encountered. He relates about an inner joy that caused him to press on toward the goals of his ministry. We can develop the same joy the Bible says is available that keeps us positive going through unhappy situations.

The quality of that joy is dependent upon on relationship with Christ. We can’t fake it because it comes from our heart and it is spiritual. It requires that we must continually die out to our self-centered nature and pray that the Holy Spirit helps us to totally surrender and live according to the teaching of Christ. This does not happen overnight and depends on one’s faith to believe and willingness to make a commitment to become devoted to God and obedient to His ways.

God wants us to be patient and we must learn to wait on God. When we face a serious problem we want God to deal with the situation immediately. If every problem was solved instantly what would we have learned? This is why the Bible tells us that God allows trials and testing to develop our patience and character. It is extremely important that we go through these difficult times and learn to trust God and obey Him. God asks that we trust and depend on Him to strengthen our love and faith. Our reaction to problems tells much about our character. Do we become angry and bitter? Or, do we accept our struggles with joy knowing that God is aware and is allowing it to happen for a reason?

Life is not about how long we live or how well we live. It is more about how we live and who do we live for. No matter how life treats us, God can use us regardless of where we are or what we are doing. Never fear, God knows every detail that occurs in our lives before it ever happens. What we go through today may be God’s way of preparing us for His kingdom in eternity. Shouldn’t we want to be as prepared as possible?
James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

I don’t know about you but when I go through times of testing I develop a closer relationship with Christ. At the same time I am reminded that there will be rewards in heaven that have been promised to us. It appears how we live here in this world and our relationship with Christ will make a difference once we leave this earth. The future should be more important than instance gratification that is offered today. But if our relationship with God is right we can have rewards both places.

Scripture says if we have the faith we can move mountains. Let’s work on our faith as we go through these tests and do so with joy.

P.S. For those few Christians who live miserable lives without joy, read Galatians, specifically the 2nd chapter. Those who still believe they must work their way to heaven and refuse to accept God’s grace are no different from the Judaizers in the early church. Those Jews believed men had to be circumcised and once converted they had to live by the 613 Jewish laws to become a Christian. Today we call them legalists because they are enslaved by works and have not received the freedom that comes through grace. Grace provides the freedom to have joy and an attitude of love which Scripture promises we will receive as a new person in Christ.

Scripture tells us that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Does that mean anything I ask for in prayer I can have? Most Christians understand that if that were true, there would be more Christians. The fact is: most things we ask for we do not receive. So what does Scripture mean?

Mark 11:22 – 25 – “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

It is believed that praying for something that you desire and God will give you, we must understand what kind of desires are answered. There are two different desires. There is a desire of the flesh or desires placed in our spirit by the Holy Spirit. Chances are if we pray for a desire that comes from the flesh, God will not answer that prayer. If we need a car, our flesh may pray for a Lamborghini or Ferrari. However, our spirit would suggest we pray for adequate transportation. No matter how much faith you have, chances are the prayer coming from the flesh will not be answered.

Scripture tells us that it is desires that start in our spirit, that God answers. We are also told that God reveals to our spirit certain desires. For example, a young person may have a real desire to get a college education but does not have the money to attend and may not believe they could find a way to start. Can you determine whether that is a desire of the flesh or from your spirit? What is the purpose of further education? If you feel that further education could help you be a better witness for Christ and you have a better chance of spreading the gospel, don’t you believe it is a desire inspired by God? If you have the faith to believe your desire is God inspired, Scripture tells us that prayer will be answered, if you believe God will make a way. To God, nothing is impossible.

No matter how much faith we have, your chance of getting a prayer answered that is not good for us is slim. That does not mean we cannot make it a goal and work for it. God gives us free moral agency to make whatever decision we chose to make. If we get a desire from our flesh answered, it may not be an answer to prayer, it may come from our determination to obtain it.

Jesus also gave other conditions for answered prayers. We are not to be bitter, hold a grudge against another or be angry at a person. Believers should not come to God asking for forgiveness or making other requests while refusing to forgive others. God checks out a person’s heart before answering prayers. The more spiritual we are, the more faith we should have and the more likely we will be praying to God with desires that come from our heart or spirit.

A problem many Christians have is: what should they be praying for if they want their prayers answered?

Romans 8:26 – 27 – “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

When we don’t know the right words or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit prays for and with us. If God is helping us pray, we should not be afraid to approach Him with our requests knowing that He will answer according to what is best for us. Paul writes about feeling empty or incomplete in this world to the extent we groan (long for) help within ourselves. This is when the Holy Spirit caries our thoughts and feelings to God. The Holy Spirit continually searches our heart. He knows what we need and what you need to become Christ-like. He knows us thoroughly. He also knows what God has planned for us. It is the Holy Spirit’s purpose to guide us on the path God has laid out for us. What is clear is that God’s purpose for people was not an afterthought; it was determined before the foundation of the earth. I believe it is clear that if we have the Holy Spirit; God has always been with us at special times. We also know that Christ sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us in getting God to answer our prayer.

We all have desires and wish for certain things. We need to determine whether it is a fleshly desire or a desire coming from our spirit. If we believe our prayer is coming from our spirit and God has revealed it to us, then we need to pray and have the faith to believe that we shall receive an answer and Scripture confirms it.

Scripture tells us in the Old Testament that it was possible for a person to walk with God. In two instances, two men that walked with God were taken to heaven without having a physical death. Chances are, no matter how spiritual a person is today, there is little chance of going to heaven prior to death. However, there will be a time when believers with be raptured and they will never experience death.

The following Scripture has always made me think that it is possible to walk with Christ: Genesis 5:24 – “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 2 Kings 2:1 – “And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, “Genesis 6:9 – “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

It occurred to me that everyone who has received the Holy Spirit has the chance to walk with Christ. A major purpose of the Holy Spirit is to help us learn how to walk with Christ so that we can become Christ-like. Everywhere we go; it is if Christ is walking with us. The problem is that most Christians do not recognize that the Holy Spirit is as if Christ were walking beside us. Romans give us instructions how we are to become more Christ-like in order to walk with Him:

Romans 8:5 – 9 – “ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)” NLT

Everyone has been given a choice. We can allow our sinful natures to control or we can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Anyone without Christ is unable to subject themselves to God as God had intended. I Corinthians 2:14 – “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” Our belief and attitude determines our eternity and our quality of life while on this earth.

Accepting Christ as our Savior and receiving the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to live a life of peace and joy. The Holy Spirit brings freedom and if we don’t have peace, joy and freedom then we are relying on ourselves and not trusting Christ for our needs. Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no way one may walk with Christ.

To walk with Christ also requires taking on a new role, in a new direction, with a new way of thinking. To walk with Christ we must get rid of deceitful desires and develop a new self and do not give the devil a foothold into our lives. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit will take our dead and insensitive spirit and give it life. Our spirit then becomes immortal and is clearly proof that we become a son or daughter of God.

We cannot be a Christian in name only and believe that Christ will walk with us. Accepting Christ requires salvation and an acknowledgement that He is Lord. We must commit to surrender our self-centeredness and carnal nature to the Holy Spirit to become Christ-like. Just became we have the Holy Spirit in our lives does not mean we will automatically follow God’s will. We must discipline ourselves and give up our control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. In most cases Christ will block or check us when we are being tempted. However, we must be careful not to think Christ or the Holy Spirit is going to make every decision for us. Christ has given us free moral agency to make decisions based on Scripture. If we want to walk with Christ we must follow His example.

Learning to walk with Christ means we are to serve others, resist pressure to act as the world acts and be willing to give up some rights. If we live according to our sinful nature, we will die; but if we live by the Spirit and walk with Christ, we will live with imperishable bodies throughout eternity. This is God’s promise and our hope.

Since God made a covenant with Abraham, He has provided laws, signs, prophets and prophecy to continually prove to man that He is Who He said He is. He is God, the creator of the universe and the creator of man and woman. Man’s problem has been to deny there is a God or denying that they needed God’s help.

Scripture tells us that in the end times there will be distressful times such as the world has never before seen. There will be scoffers and unbelievers and those that live worldly and evil lives. However, there will be believers in Christ that worship God and they will live in eternity and never physically die.

Daniel 12:10 – “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”

Daniel 12:1 – “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.”

God has made laws so man would follow and realize it was God who provided prosperity or they took punishment when they failed to be obedient. Most were farmers and God told them that they could plant six years but they were not allowed to plant the land, it had to rest, the seventh year. Six years they would have good crops but if they planted the seventh year, in the same soil, the crops would not do well. In my younger days, many farmers continued to follow this law.

God did not want the Jews to borrow money. He told them that every seventh year, if they loaned money, it had to be paid back or there would be a “wipe out” day in the seventh year and all debts were to be cancelled. To this day, every seventh year there seems to be a financial crisis as Israel and America are in debt. We had economic problem in 2001, 2008 and 2015 one is due. The more we ignore God and fail to worship Him and follow His guidance for living, we pay the price. For any believer that spends more than they earn and over borrows, may expect a financial crises to occur at some point. If you feel stress you may have violated God’s laws. Daniel 9:14 – “The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.”

The land that a Jewish family was given, at God’s direction, when they arrived in the Promised Land, was a forever contract. If they sold their land, at the end of a fifty year period, called the year of Jubilee, the land had to be returned to the original owners. If you bought land, you only paid the amount you would have it until the year of jubilee. Then you had to return it to the original family at no cost. Every Jubilee year is a special year and the fall of 2015 begins one and it ends in 2016. There has been 40 Jubilee years since Christ’s death. Leviticus 25:10 – “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan.”

God has used prophets to spread His message and most times, the people would not accept God and they rebelled. Any time they worshipped others gods, denied God or were disobedient He got their attention by punishing them. Once they realized it was God causing the problems they would repent, worship Him and realize that God loved them and they would prosper. This is why we should not believe in “man-made” global warming or climate change. That does not mean we shouldn’t do everything we can to keep the air and water pure. We must not deny that God is still in control.

God has given all kinds of signs over the years. Before the Jews left Egypt all kinds of plagues and supernatural events occurred. The parting of the Red Sea should have made the Jews aware that there was a God. When the Jews came out of Egypt to the promise land God fed and protected them.

God has used the sun, stars and moon as signs so man would realize that He was their God. In 1492 during four blood moons falling on Jewish religious holidays, the Spanish inquisition of Jews occurred. All Jews were told to convert to Catholicism or leave the country. Many of those who stayed were killed. That same year an Italian Jew, Columbus, who was mostly financially supported by Jewish investors set sail and discovered the American continent at San Salvador. Some believe many Jews from the lost tribes of Israel migrated to England. From England they came to help settle America. The Americas may have been created partly to protect Jewish citizens, from the lost tribes, as well as militarily protection for Israel. America was founded on Jewish/Christian principles and morality. At the same time, Christianity spread throughout the United States. When the Jews failed to spread God’s message to the Gentiles, He used Christianity to do so. Christians have taken the Gospel to most every country as the Bible prophesied.

In 1948, the next time that there were four blood red moons falling on Jewish religious holidays, Israel on May 14, 1948 became a homeland to the Israelites and an official country. God began calling Jews from all over the world to return to their God-given covenant land as previously prophesied.

The next time this lunar eclipse phenomenon occurred was in 1967. Israel was attacked by Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon and they repelled their enemies. The war lasted six days and Israel captured Sinai, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They were able to unify control over Jerusalem their covenant land. The Soviet Union supplied most of their enemies’ military equipment and economic assistance. President Lyndon Johnson rallied to assist Israel. During this war there were a number of supernatural events that happened and the Jews believed it was because God was on their side. It was the first time in 2000 years that they controlled Jerusalem.

Some believe this September 28, 2015 when we again have the forth blood moon and a lunar eclipses falling on a Jewish holiday, some major event will likely occur. Since Christ’s birth there have been seven times these red blood eclipses have happened and only three times in the last 500 years.

Scripture is telling the truth when it says: “None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” I hope you are one who realizes that God continues to prove His love for man by giving him every indication that He exists. He sent His Son to die for our sins. He has provided us with a plan to become one of His children. He gives us the Holy Spirit if we accept Christ and make a commitment to die out to self and allow Him to guide us.

For many years I have been a church Elder. As Elders, we have been asked to pray for the sick. I have seen supernatural healings. I have heard people describe having died and witnessing hell and then return to live and accept Christ as their Savior. I have had people die and witness heaven and Jesus and then come back to life and tell us what it is like. For nine years, I chaired a committee that purchased 80 acres for our church. Across the street 80 acres cost $8.8 million. We bought our 80 acres for $3 million. We oversaw the building of a 150,000 sq. ft. church. We had numerous problems. We had a prayer group that would pray for each problem and supernaturally the problem became solved. Having witnessed all these miracles, God has blessed me by taking away any fear of death. You can have the same assurance.

AFTER ALL GOD HAS DONE TO PROVE THAT HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS, THERE WILL BE NO EXCUSES NOT TO BELIEVE!!!

I told my family that my grandfather at the age of seven was logging with his father and brother. A log rolled over him and mashed him into the ground and mashed his chest. It broke his ribs, one shoulder and an arm was badly broken. His father took him home on horseback. His mother laid him on the floor by the door so he could get air and breathe. He was hemorrhaging badly from his nose and mouth. His father rode seven miles to get a doctor to come to their home.

The doctor came, shook his head and said: I can’t do anything for the child, for there are bones penetrating the lungs.” His mother said: “He will live and make a preacher. She got a sheet, tore it into strips some four to six inches wide and asked the doctor to help her wrap him up, pressing his body back to about the right shape and fixing his arm as best she could. The doctor shed tears and went away. He later heard others say: “He will never be strong.”

He said there were times he was conscious and other times unconscious. He remembered his mother on her knees praying and asking God to spare his life and she said she would do her best to see that He preached the Gospel.

It was two years later before he could go to school and play with the other boys. His arm was misshapen for three or four years. His mother would pray, rub his arm and by using it, it came out all right. God healed him and he became a very normal teenager. At the age of 19 he was converted and felt lead to become a minister of the gospel. His entire adult life he farmed and on Sunday’s preached. He and my grandmother raised a family with ten children.

Just think: there would not be 100s of us if he had not lived. This is also the reason many of us have accepted there is a God. Our parents believed that if my grandfather did not have a mother who prayed and believed God would heal him, he may not have lived?

Many Christians too often feel they know best and there is no need to listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Too many times we want to change God’s plan for us, for we know what is best. Or we do not feel worthy enough that God has a purpose or plan for us. How many Christians start each day by praying and meditating asking for God to guide them throughout the day? Do we live as if there is no God or that we can do without His help?
Do we understand why God allows problems or trials to confront us so that we will pray asking for His assistance in solving the trials? I suppose if we went through a supernatural experience as my grandfather, we would be a more serious Christian. At least our faith and trusting that He will help, would improve.

Throughout Biblical history God has done everything to prove that He was Who He said He was. If the Jews rebelled, He would stop it from raining. When they would worship him, they would become prosperous. However, the more prosperous they became the less they believed they needed God and would stop worshipping Him.

Proverbs 23:7a – “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” What we think about is who we are. How much time do we give to God? Is the only time we think of God and pray is at meal time? Can we not see why many people do not believe they need a God?

Then consider, Satan is the great deceiver, divider and destroyer. Satan attacks the carnal nature of man with tempting lusts and worldly pleasures. The Holy Spirit inspires our spirit and soul to become more Christ-like. Who are the majority of people listening to? If you are listening to Satan you may find it easy to deny there is a God.

Recently, I was talking to my doctor and discussion of the Bible came up. He told me that a number of his patients were atheists. They reject the belief that God exists. They do not believe there are any deities. I find this so hard to understand because I have witnessed so many supernatural experiences that have proved to me God exists and He has opened doors in my life and He has closed doors. I believe, were it not for God’s healing power, I would not be alive today. I have had severe heart attacks since 1984 and cancer since 1997. Once I was given only a 10% chance of living through bypass surgery. When I was having my health issues, I am glad that I knew God’s presence was with me. Many were praying that I would be healed. What do atheists do when they face severe health issues?

I am thankful for a grandfather who prayed daily for his children and his grandchildren. I do the same because I have a God that loves me and answers my prayers.

Satan knows the Bible and what will happen in the end times. He does not want you believing there is a God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So he has a plan to deceive the world into believing there is no God of the Bible. Christ tells us there will be all kinds of signs that we might recognize that show the end of the church age, the Tribulation and the War of Armageddon. Scripture tells us that there will be many deniers when the end is near.

2 Peter 3:3 – 4 – “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

When God told Abraham and Aaron to go and tell the Egyptian Pharaoh that God says to let the Jews return to the promised land, Pharaoh did not believe in their God. Therefore, God knew that the Egyptians believed in a sun god, the god of the Nile River and the god of nature. God turned the earth to darkness blotting out the sun. He turned the Nile into blood to deny that god. He caused a number of plagues to prove that He also controlled nature. Many similar signs are about to take place. God once again, will do many supernatural events to prove that He is God. As in the past, many will not believe that God is causing these events to happen. This is where the politicians, who are being used by Satan, will try and convince us that it is all because of man-made global warming or climate change that will cause the supernatural events that are coming and not God.

Scripture tells us not to judge. We are not to judge individuals but we may judge our politicians’ actions. What you see coming out of Washington, D. C., is it God inspired or Satan led? This coming September 13 is the Jewish calendar’s year end. This is the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah and the beginning of a new year. On September 15, France is expected to vote to recognize the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine. This September the UN Security Council is also expected to vote on a UN resolution to create a Palestinian state dividing Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and the Palestinian State and at the same time condemn Israel. It will also recommend the reducing of Israel’s territory. The Wall Street Journal wrote about this a few months back.

Keep in mind, September 28 will be the fourth blood moon that falls on a Jewish holiday. Remember the past three four blood moons were in 1492, 1948 and 1967. Let us see what our politicians do in September and if they do insist that Israel gives up land to Palestine. Do you believe God will allow it?

I must point out that I am not predicting or prophesizing but writing about what I read in the papers, see on TV and read studying the Bible daily. However, if the above happens it could be considered one of the signs that the end is getting near. Genesis 15:18 tells us: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” This land does not belong to Israel, it belongs to God, but Israel gets to use it.

What may we expect when the end times approach? Revelation 8:7 – “The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”

As we cover some supernatural events that will occur during the end-times, again I want to point out Judgments are designed to again prove that God is Who He says He is. Something the Old Testament states He has continually done throughout history. Instead of God taking revenge on the persecutors, some believe one purpose of the judgments is also intended to produce repentance. The following is what the Bible says will happen:

First – Hail and fire mixed with blood rained down on one-third of the earth. Second – Verse 8:8 – A huge mountain, on fire, is thrown into the sea turning one-third of the sea to blood, destroying one-third of sea life and sinking one-third of the ships at sea. Third – Verse 8:10 & 11 – A blazing star, named Wormwood, falls on rivers and streams turning the water bitter and many people die. Fourth – Verse 8:12 & 13 – One-third of the sun, moon and stars were struck and went dark and one-third of the day was without light. Fifth – Verses 9:1 – 11 – An angel fell from the sky that had the key to the Abyss or Bottomless Pit. They believe this is Satan with the key. He then opened the Abyss and smoke came out causing the sky and sun to become dark. From the Abyss locusts came out with the power and sting of a scorpion. They could eat no vegetation. For five months they could sting non-believers but not those with God’s seal. Sixth – Verses 9:13 – 21 – The four angels bound at the Euphrates River were turned loose to kill one-third of mankind by using an army of 200 million. It is believed John was describing a modern army using fire, smoke and sulfur causing the death of a third of mankind. We believe it to be the battle of Armageddon and an end to history.

Apparently, these judgments do not take place worldwide because only 1/3 of the earth is devastated. Could this be the result of an H-bomb that can destroy everything for a radius of 100 miles? Twenty-five of these bombs would destroy the United States. Zechariah 14:12 says, “Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” Could the thunder, lightning and earthquakes be a result of atomic or hydrogen bombs? This occurred in Japan when we dropped the two atomic bombs. All those Old Testament prophets understood, were bows, arrows and catapults. How would they have described a nuclear bomb?

Strictly my opinion: Let me give a brief recap. I see the plagues of Egypt reoccurring again. God continues to prove to the world that He controls the universe and He is who He says He is. As the Egyptians, non-believers will not accept what happens as divinely inspired. They will blame it on politicians who they believe have allowed our waters to be polluted. They have caused our cities to be filled with smog and our forests devastated. Global warming causes all of the disease and pestilence. For every event that occurs, Satan will convince most, that man caused it. Massive earthquakes will be blamed on all of the oil that has been taken out of the earth. The massive earthquakes will cause volcanoes to erupt. Smoke from these eruptions will cause the earth to become 1/3 dark. The extreme heat of the lava will destroy sea life. It will cause gigantic storms, thus destroying 1/3 of the ships at sea. Comets and meteorites have fallen to earth before and will again. Non-believers will ask, “What makes you think your God caused it?” It is God’s judgment and the desire to see man repent that they do not see. Can you believe there is a God?